How to use Google Maps offline on an iPhone

It’s mid August, which means it is the height of the summer holidays here in the UK. We thought it only right that this week’s tech tip should be one that helps you out whilst sunning yourself abroad!

When travelling, it is always wise to have access to a map. Getting lost is an unnerving experience. Getting lost in a country where you cannot speak the language to ask for directions, or in a rural area where no one is around, is – quite frankly – terrifying!

Holidaymakers will rely on maps to varying degrees. Some will need one to guide them from the airport to the resort and back again. Those who plan to go on a week-long trek, may need to reference a map on a more regular basis.

If you were to use the Google Maps app as per normal abroad, it can seriously drain your battery and you can end up with a hefty data bill as a result! Plus, you cannot rely on your internet connection. It could be slow, spotty or non-existent; especially, if you are visiting somewhere remote.

To avoid this problem, you could forgo technology altogether and dig out the old OS maps. If you are planning to go significantly off piste, it would be wise to take a hard copy of a map anyway. However, it seems a shame not to take advantage of the technology available.

Google thought the same thing. As a result, they have made it possible to navigate your way around with Google Maps whilst offline. It just requires a little bit of planning on the user’s part. All you have to do is download all the relevant areas that you intend to visit onto your phone before you go. That way, when you are on the road or lacking signal, you can still use Google Maps and not get lost!

Things you should know before using Google Maps offline

Before you start navigating with Google Maps offline, there are a few limitations you should be aware of. When using Google Maps offline you CANNOT:

• Access real-time traffic data. In order to get real-time traffic data, you have to have an internet connection. If you are navigating offline and type in a destination, any ETA (estimated time of arrival) that is generated will be calculated on the basis that there is no traffic. You will also not be informed of any looming traffic ahead with those helpful red and orange route lines or traffic indicators.
• Get route alternatives. With no real-time traffic data available, there is no need for an alternative route. Google Maps will work out the quickest route as if traffic didn’t exist.
• Get public transport, bicycling or walking directions. Google Maps offline can only generate driving directions.
• Download offline maps in certain regions. Google says it is not possible to download offline maps in certain regions for various reasons including “contractual limitations, language support, address formats or other reasons.”

How to download Google Maps to be used offline on an iPhone

If you are going on a city break and want a map of said city, when at home, with a secure Wi-Fi connection:

1. Open up the Google Maps app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Type the name of the city you are visiting into the search bar. For e.g. Amsterdam.
3. Select the correct option in the list of results provided.
4. Scroll up and tap “More” (the meatball icon – three horizontal dots).
5. Select “Download offline map.”
6. Pinch to zoom in or out and drag the map until the viewport covers the area you intend to visit.
7. Tap “Download” once you are happy with the map selection.

If you would like a map of a wider or nondescript area, you can select your own map. When at home, with a secure Wi-Fi connection:

1. Open up the Google Maps app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your profile picture or initial Account Circle.
3. Select “Offline Maps.”
4. Tap “Select Your Own Map.”
5. Pinch to zoom in or out and drag the map until the viewport covers the area you intend to visit.
6. Tap “Download” once you are happy with the map selection.

Just above the download button, the app will tell you how much file space the map would use up if you were to download it to your phone. Check you are happy with this before going ahead with the download.

How to rename Offline Google Maps on an iPhone

If you download a map that zooms in and focuses on a particular city, Google Maps will automatically name it as the city’s name for e.g. “London.” However, if your map covers multiple towns and cities or a nondescript region, it will simply name it “Map 1.” If you download a few maps like this at the same time, it will name them “Map 1,” “Map 2” and so forth.

When the time comes to use your offline maps, unless you remember what area every single map covers, you will have to spend time figuring out which one to use. You can make this whole process a lot simpler by renaming them as soon as you download them. To do that:

1. Open up the Google Maps app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your profile picture or initial Account Circle.
3. Select “Offline Maps.”
4. Find the map you want to rename.
5. Tap “More” (the meatball icon – three horizontal dots – next to it.)
6. Select “Rename” from the list that appears.
7. Enter a new title for your offline map into the field provided on the pop-up which has appeared. (Make it specific and easy to remember, especially if you intend to download multiple maps within a similar region.)
8. Hit “Save.”

How to use offline Google Maps and still access mobile data on an iPhone

Offline maps were created to solve the problem of the Google Maps app being a big drain on the battery and mobile data. But what should you do when you want to use Google Maps offline for this very reason, but need to have mobile data switched on for another?

You may be on vacation with a large group. None of you could agree on an itinerary for the day, so you split up, did your different activities, but are now looking to regroup in a new location. Or, perhaps you are working abroad. You are due to meet a colleague in an area you do not know. In both scenarios, unless a meeting time and place was specified beforehand, there are no delays and all goes to plan, you need to be able to contact one another.

Most of us use Whatsapp as a way of keeping in touch these days. However, you cannot use it offline. So how do you liaise with the person you are meeting and get yourself to an unfamiliar location, using one phone and without being charged a hefty fee in the process?

Well the team at Apple have made it super simple. You have the power to choose what apps can and cannot use mobile data. So for this scenario, you can simply opt out of mobile data for Google Maps, whilst continuing to use it for your messaging.

To switch off the use of Mobile Data for Google Maps:

1. Go to the iPhone settings app.
2. Scroll down to the app section and select “Google Maps.”
3. Switch the “Mobile Data” toggle to off.

This will force the Google Maps app to use your downloaded maps.

How to enable the auto-update of offline Google Maps on an iPhone

Google Maps is being updated every second. Business owners are adding details of their premises daily and that funny-looking Google Street View car is constantly on the move, getting updated visuals. As a result of this rapid rate of change, any downloaded Google Maps are automatically set to expire after 15 days. After that, they can no longer be used.

If you intend to visit an area for a period longer than 15 days, you might want to switch on the “auto-update offline maps” feature. That way, your maps will automatically update when you are connected to Wi-Fi. You don’t then run the risk of forgetting to update them manually and being out and about with an unusable map.

To switch on the auto-update feature:

1. Open up the Google Maps app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your profile picture or initial Account Circle.
3. Select “Offline Maps.”
4. Tap the Settings icon (the cog in the top right-hand corner.)
5. Switch the “Auto-update offline maps” toggle to on.

How to delete unused offline Google Maps on an iPhone

Once you have returned from your holiday, you can delete the downloaded maps you no longer need to free up some storage. To do that:

1. Open up the Google Maps app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your profile picture or initial Account Circle.
3. Select “Offline Maps.”
4. Find the map you want to delete.
5. Tap “More” (the meatball icon – three horizontal dots – next to it.)
6. Select “Delete” from the list that appears.
7. Confirm and tap “Delete” again in the pop-up that has appeared.

At Appdrawn Software Development we believe that tech should be doing all the heavy lifting! That is why we have a whole Tech Tip blog series dedicated to sharing digital hacks that make our lives that little bit easier.